Making solar simpler: New Orleanians installing solar panels should get easier road

Jennifer Zdon / The Times-PicayuneThomas Koch installed a solar system on his New Orleans home.

Homeowners who install solar panels are already making a huge financial investment; they shouldn't have to climb a mountain of red tape, too.

But that's been the experience of solar pioneers in New Orleans who've taken advantage of generous state and federal tax credits to create their own electricity. They need as many as four permits -- building, mechanical, electrical and plumbing -- to install the panels, something that's costly as well as cumbersome.

Getting a "net meter, " which allows a homeowner with this technology to sell power back to Entergy, is also a daunting process. The utility had a 54-page packet, including a 14-page application form that John McGowin, the city's energy director, described as a 20-year-old standard form.

Fortunately, city officials and Entergy are making an effort to ease the process. Mr. McGowin is working to reduce the number of permits to one. That would cut permit costs for homeowners and make the process simpler. Mr. McGowin says that he'll raise the issue at the next Louisiana State Code Council meeting on Jan. 13, and it's encouraging to see the city pursuing efficiencies for homeowners.

He's also working with Entergy and the solar industry to make it simpler to get a net meter. As a result, homeowners will get a much more streamlined package -- two pages of information and a two-page application.

Going solar will still be a challenge simply because it is so new. Most suppliers are on the east or west coasts, which means that it takes longer and costs more to get equipment here, and the 10 companies that are licensed to install the systems are also new.

"We have a new industry. We have a city who needs to learn about the industry in terms of safety and permitting, and we have Entergy, who has to get on board in terms of connecting people to the grid, " said Stephen Shelton, executive director of the Louisiana CleanTech Network.

But at least all parties seem to be making an effort to make this technology more accessible, and that's refreshingly progressive.